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Recapping My 2019/2020 Predictions |
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Day 6 of no hockey......I am now working from home..... that lack of social connection is starting to get to me. I've knitted small dolls based on each player from the Edmonton Oilers. Each one is sitting on top of my desk.....staring at me. The Darnell Nurse doll I keep needing to pick up and put back on my desk..... he is never where he is supposed to be.
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Back in August, I made Ten Bold Predictions for the 2019/2020 season. While we still might end up getting an end to the regular season this still feels like a good time to look back and see what crazy predictions I had prior to the beginning of this season.
1.) Tyler Benson makes the team out of training camp
Prior to the beginning of training camp, there were still massive questions surrounding who would be the wingers in the top 6. Zack Kassian was going to get a bump next to McDavid because of the success they had near the end of the season, Draisaitl was still a lock next to Connor and Neal was going to get a look too.
There was a massive lack of skill in the top 6 and I felt that Benson who had just finished his first pro year in the AHL was going to get a long look in training camp. While Benson ended up getting a few games in the last couple months he did not make the roster out of TC. A miss on this one.
2.) Joel Persson scores 30 points
Whoops. Persson, who is now a member of the Anaheim Ducks organization, started the season next to Oscar Klefbom with Nurse and Larsson being the shutdown duo. At 25 years old, producing professionally in Sweden and next to an offensive player like Klefbom I thought Persson had a chance to be impactful in terms of points. Through the 13 games he played in Edmonton, Joel Persson had 2 assists.
3.) James Neal scores 20 goals
Damn you COVID 19! James Neal exploded onto the scene for Edmonton in his first few games and while he slowed down as the year progressed and wasn't the best at 5 on 5, Neal produced 19 goals for Edmonton. I'm calling this a win for me due to how close it was and also because the Oilers might not have to give the Flames a third round pick.
4.) Mike Smith is the starting goaltender by December 1
Also calling this one a win for me. December was the Oilers worst month of the season, with no player looking successful. Both Koskinen and Smith struggled mightily through this month but after the team got their head above water, Smith appeared to be Tippett's starter.
5.) Jesse Puljujarvi has not played his last game as an Edmonton Oiler
Jury is still out on this one. Puljujarvi's rights remain tied to the Edmonton Oilers as the young Finn has not been traded yet. JP has had a massively successful season overseas and yet there doesn't seem to be any hard interest in him from other organizations. The best thing for the team and player may still be for him to return to Edmonton and prove to other teams then that he can be impactful in the NHL.
6.) The Oilers sweep season series versus the Flames
I predicted that Calgary would finish above Edmonton in the standings but that the Edmonton Oilers would sweep this series. There is technically one game remaining in the season series but through the first four games the Oilers have a 1-2-1 record.
7.) Draisaitl wins Rocket Richard Trophy
Just remember that while most people believed that Draisaitl's 50 goal season last year was a high point and he would regress I was saying this. Draisaitl surpassed his career high last season of 105 points and is currently at 110. Currently at 43 goals on the season and 5 goals back of the leaders (Ovechkin and Pastrnak) Leon likely won't win the Rocket but this prediction wasn't nearly as far-fetched as many believed.
8.) Joakim Nygard scores 18 goals
When I made this prediction, it was my belief that Nygard would find a spot on the second line, likely with James Neal and Ryan Nugent Hopkins. Nygard instead found a spot in the bottom six and through 33 games played this season has 3 goals.
9.) Oscar Klefbom plays 81 games
Nope. This time it was a shoulder injury that kept Klefbom from playing a full season..... also that whole global pandemic thing.
10.) Tobias Reider scores a goal against Edmonton this season
I made this prediction prior to Reider being signed to a PTO by the Calgary Flames and then earning a contract as well. While Reider didn't score a goal against Edmonton in the regular season, he did in a pre-season game so I'm counting this one.
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Which of your own bold predictions that you made happened this season?
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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